Alphabet’s Waymo has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to expand its robotaxi service to parts of Los Angeles and the Bay Area. This approval allows Waymo to begin offering driverless passenger services in specified areas of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Peninsula.
The expansion of Waymo’s service has sparked concerns among competing taxi and transit service providers, as well as labor activists who are worried about the potential loss of jobs for drivers. Safety advocates have also raised issues about the use of autonomous vehicles in California, citing incidents involving unmanned Waymo vehicles crashing into a towed pickup truck in Phoenix.
The California Public Utilities Commission had initially rejected an earlier proposal from Waymo to expand its ride-hail services in Los Angeles and San Mateo County. However, the regulator has now approved Waymo’s new proposal based on the company’s updated Passenger Safety Plan and expanded operational design domain for deployment.
Waymo’s progress in California comes at a time when other autonomous vehicle companies, such as General Motors-owned Cruise and Apple, have exited the market in the state. Meanwhile, Tesla has yet to develop an autonomous vehicle that can operate safely without a human driver. California regulators have imposed restrictions on self-driving Cruise robotaxis following incidents, which has made Waymo’s new approvals significant.
Waymo’s expansion of robotaxi services in California represents a significant step forward in the development of autonomous vehicles. Despite concerns and controversies surrounding the use of driverless vehicles, Waymo’s approval by the California Public Utilities Commission highlights the company’s commitment to safety and innovation in the transportation sector.
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